US is the country hit the most by ransomware attacks

English-speaking and other Western countries are being targeted the most by ransomware, according to NordLocker’s recent ransomware report.

The US tops the chart of countries being hit with ransomware attacks, with construction being the top industry in the US, as well as tech, finance, business services, and healthcare.

By definition, ransomware is a type of malware that withholds a victim’s access to files and data until a ransom is paid.

The report discovered that 22% of attacks are aimed at small businesses with 10-50 employees, and even though less than 1% of US firms are publicly traded, they make up 8% of attacks. Adding to that, 5% of ransomware attacks in the US are public sector institutions.

Diving deeper into the US, California, Texas, Florida, and New York are the top states hit by ransomware attacks.

Other countries hitting the top of the list include the UK at second, followed by Germany, Canada, and Italy for the top five. France, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, and Brazil take the next five spots.

Worldwide, companies hit the most often are usually those who play a critical role in supply chains and handle lots of customer data, according to Nordlocker.

Plus, companies with an insufficient focus on cybersecurity, high-stakes working conditions, and a lack of resources also factor in the level of ransomware attacks.

Construction showed to be the number industry globally, too, for ransomware attacks, followed by finance, manufacturing, tech, and business services.

Transportation, public sector, consumer services, retail, and education made up the top ten although closely followed by healthcare, too.

To read cyber security experts’ advice on how to prevent an attack from happening to your firm, read TI’s Ransomware Report here.